Tag Archives: Salvation

(A Paraphrase of the story found in “Pulling Weeds, Planting Seeds” by Dennis Rainey. Review to come out on the blog next week!)

A man named Bill Howard was boarding a packed flight, already frustrated at finding a seat. As he looked up, he noticed a disfigured man trying to find a seat, all the while noticing others were uncomfortably staring at him.

The two men ended up sitting next to each other. As they sat down, Bill notices the mutilated hands, missing ears, skin only partially covering the nostrils of his nose.

Mustering up his courage, Bill began to talk with the man and asked him if it was OK if he could hear the story behind his burns. The man, named Johnny, said he would rather talk to someone than be stared at.

He shared he was at a rest stop gas station when a car pulled out in front of a gas tanker truck. The truck jack-knifed, rolled, burst into flames and covered nearly 70 people with burning fuel, including Johnny & his father…who were both engulfed into flames.

The story doesn’t stop there – Johnny saw an old man stuck under a steel rod. So, while on fire, Johnny lifted the rod off the old man’s chest to save his life…and burnt his fingers off.

Story ends w/ Johnny accepting Christ on the plane. It was a divine appointment for Bill & his new friend. People are not always as they appear. Underneath the scars and burns – Johnny was a kind hero.

Don’t be afraid to have a conversation with someone. Be bold in your witness. Don’t judge someone on their appearance. Look at others as God sees them…by their heart.

Let’s say – You have an appointment with the doctor. You’re feeling fine, no symptoms, just a checkup. The doctor comes in with the lab reports and says you are going to need surgery, right away.

What do you think? Do you just sign on the dotted line and ask where those drafty blue gowns are? NOOOO! You ask to see the result of the tests, the x-rays, the blood tests…show me the chart that says I have a problem.

Everyone in this room tonight is at that appointment. All of you have the problem. It’s called sin. No matter what tests you have done – it’s ALL going to come back positive.

And there is only one cure – you need surgery. That sin that is part of your life needs to be removed, and the only way it can be removed: JESUS CHRIST.

Don’t be the patient and just stare at the lab results and toss them away…Don’t be like those at the cross and just be like the crowd that walks away. You want to be able to call this day good?

You want to have victory in your life? Trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, have him forgive your sins and give you new life. There is only ONE WAY. Pray in your heart to Jesus and you will be able to see what many already see…how good, how oh so good – Good Friday is.

Clear as Whatever the Opposite of Mud. I don’t think I have read a description of salvation that was so clear and simple. Anyone that is confused or even over-confident about salvation, this is a book you could put in their hand with confidence.

Hi, My Name is Jeff, Here’s a Book. Someone asked me about the book as I started reading it, and I told them after just two chapters I wanted to give the book to everyone I knew. The content is that good and vital to a proper understanding of the Gospel.

Weren’t You Just Here? I often would circle back to the very sentence I just read to make sure I got it right. I don’t often do this in books, but with this one it was different. The material was so significant, I wanted to make sure I truly comprehended what I was reading.

The Bad:

That’s Some Bold Sauce. The author was not shy. There were some bold declarations of theological terms, where he would define them. Now I didn’t see any errors, but that would be a dangerous path for me to walk down.

The Grade: A. With a topic of salvation so central to the Christian faith, this book should be on your shelf to read and refer to on a regular basis. Don’t let the title of the book put you off. In fact it seems the author isn’t that big of a fan of the title either. It’s a small book that packs a punch and will organize what you know, and allow you to be articulate in your witness and knowledge of the Gospel.

Before I get to the point…watch this incredible story of a Dad and his son.

You have experienced Amazing Grace if you have salvation. And you have been given new eyes, a new focus, new meaning…a new life. You have new sight. You have been looking at the ground all this time…at this world hoping to find happiness, joy, and fulfillment. Now, you can look up, and you can SEE. You have been given new life. From death to life.

And with these new eyes, How dare we look down on anyone else in the sense that we are any better – No, if anything we should have a better understanding of where they are – and where they could be! It should break our heart – motivate us to share how they could be rescued, delivered from death to life.

To sum up…you have salvation, NOW WHAT? Live a life as if you have been given a new life (because you have), and share this new way of living with those that have not experienced it. LIVE & SHARE!

You are at the base of the tallest mountain in the world. Let’s say no one has ever made it to the top due to treacherous slopes, dangerous animal habitats, and weather conditions where no human has ever survived.

Yet, with your can-do-it spirit, your Marmot coat, one of those unbreakable water bottles that doesn’t spill, some rope, and a packet of foot warmers…you charge the mountain. All around you, you see others making the same attempt, and all of them are failing miserable. But you still try, and try, and try again.

Seems foolish, but this trip up the impossible mountain happens every day for so many people. This impossible mountain is called righteousness. As it says in Psalm 36:6, “Your righteousness is like the highest mountains”…that is, God’s righteousness. We live in a world that is trying to climb the impossible mountain of righteousness, and even though they keep failing to reach the top, they keep trying.

You will never reach the top on your own. But there is hope. Jesus is at the top of the mountain, reaching down with His hand. His hand offering forgiveness, new life, and eternal hope. But, in their hardness of heart, very few look up. Determined to climb the mountain on their own, they never look for help…they fail to see Jesus, their only hope for reaching the top.

Romans 3:23 tells us we all fall short of God’s glory. That is until we trust in Jesus. When we give our life to Jesus, He gives us His righteousness…He takes us right to the top of the mountain and our eternal journey begins.

Will you take His hand? He is reaching for you now. Stop trying to climb the mountain on your own and keep falling…grab His hand, and enjoy the view.

According to Acts 17:27, God is not far away. So how do people miss God? If God is sitting in front of everyone with open arms, why are so many turning the other way, or missing out on a relationship with the Creator. Here are 3 reasons why people miss out on “finding” God.

Fail to Look. Men, we are famous “give-up lookers” – we ask our wife – “Hun, where are the keys?” “In the diaper bag” – 2 seconds of looking – “They’re not there”…we get frustrated…BUT WE FAILED TO LOOK! Heard this happens, not like I have personal experience with this.

People – don’t fail to look for God. So many are looking in the wrong places for answers to life, and God is right there waiting. John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

There is only ONE way…and many are taking a wide turn so far from the truth – finding it hard to come back…but you are not as far as you think. No matter your past, no matter what you have done – one simple turn to God – and you can find forgiveness, eternity, and salvation.

Distractions. So many distractions in our lives from what really matters. Our enemy, Satan, has become a master and taking our eyes off of God. Let me give you an example. If you go out to lunch today, just look around – see how many families are actually talking to each other vs. their faces glowing by the screen of their smart phone/tablet. Our jobs, families, sports, current events…while they are not evil, can distract us to finding God.

Darkness. That phrase “feel their way” is the same description used in Homer’s classic “Odyssey”. It described the blind Cyclops who was groping to find Odysseus in the cave…knowing he was there but unable to grab him in the darkness.

The darkness…it is sin. Sin is the darkness…and because of that darkness, many find it hard to find the light. Sin is getting in the way of finding God. But you know what – God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for those sins – to wipe them away – and if you put your trust in Him today – He can forgive them and place them as far as the east is from the west.

Listen, God is not far away. Like that lost item we spoke of earlier – when you find it, you almost kick yourself, because it was there the whole time. 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” God is patiently waiting with open arms – for you to take place in his family. The adoption papers are all signed and approved – it’s up to the child to come running to the Father.

Disclaimer: “Find” is in air quotes, because it is truly God that finds us. But this is the words used in Acts 17, describing someone’s conversion experience.

Let’s say your neighbor or friend told you to undergo chemotherapy…would you? Well, no, especially when you feel healthy, have had no symptoms, no lumps, and you have no evidence of a need for chemo.

Let me ask you this…does your attitude change when the doctor shows you the MRI, the test results, the blood levels…revealing you have cancer. Do you see a need for the chemotherapy now?

Listen, it is only when you see yourself as sick that you go to the doctor. You don’t go to the doctor to visit and chat about sports and the weather. It’s not worth the waiting room experience, is it? No – you go to the doctor when you’re sick. You undergo chemo when you have cancer.

Same thing when talking about with your soul – you will never go to the Savior Jesus Christ asking to be saved – if you don’t think there is anything to be saved from…you don’t feel like a sinner or think you are sinner…so why would you need to be forgiven?

Well today, I’m the doctor coming to you with the deadly results – you have a genetic defect…in fact, all of us are infected…and it is called sin…and the only cure is the cross. Jesus’ death on the cross. Who needs the cross? YOU DO! I DO! We all do!

Recently, tragedy struck our church. A young man died serving our country, and protecting our freedom. His parents lead music at our church, and are the kindest and most giving people. But my goal in writing today is not another rendition of “when bad things happen to good people”. These are lessons I’ve learned specifically this week when life gets hard.

Importance of Church Family. This cannot be stressed enough. Honestly, I have no idea how people get through hard times without a loving and caring church community. Our church has acted like a family through this. While the immediately family is suffering, so is the church family, but it is the church family that can provide unlimited support through cards, calls, meals, prayers, and encouragement.

New Understanding of Grace. While God’s mercies are certainly new every morning, His grace is sufficient. These two phrases have come to mind on numerous occasions this week. These truths need to be held dear during hard times. Lean on God’s grace and mercy, and know that even in the tears of the night, you will wake up to theses blessed promises in the morning.

Power of Prayer. If you have ever experienced a tragedy like this in your personal life, you may have experienced the power of prayer. You can actually feel the prayers being lifted on your behalf. The burden is lighter because it is being carried by loving brothers and sisters of Christ.

Renewed Appreciation of Salvation. I John 5:13 says we can know for sure we have eternal life. In these times when a believer is taken from us tragically, your appreciation for salvation goes through the roof. Knowing for sure that someone trusted in Jesus Christ provides eternal comfort.

God’s Sovereignty. Even though you can never fully explain these events, tragedies, and trials, you can trust in God’s sovereignty. God has a plan, and there will be evidence in the events that follow. God often uses tragedy to build His kingdom, to change lives, to bring us closer, and to provide change. Look no further than when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to the cross…to build His Kingdom, to change lives eternally, to bring us to a saving relationship with the Father, and to provide not just a change in our lives, but a transformation.

It has been said that you trials are always a part of your. You are either leaving a trial, in a trial, or about to enter a trial. God has warned us this life would be full of trouble, but he does not leave us empty-handed. Our Heavenly Father will get us through, and this week was a reminder of the capable hands of the Lord.

Immediately following his contract signing, he goes out and parties the night away. His exploits included attending a night club and drinking from a $20,000 bottle of champagne. I blush at the price of a milkshake at Steak n’ Shake sometimes. I can’t imagine paying more for a drink than for my family’s minivan.

You are probably wondering my point. Athletes sign exorbitant contracts all the time. See Kevin Durant, or this list when you have a spare second. You will wonder where the money comes from, and what in the world they do with all that coin (I know I would be tempted to put it all in gold coins and swim around in it like Scrooge McDuck). Big deal (pardon the pun) right? In the end, it isn’t a big deal at all. In fact, I think of the many athletes that squander their money, only to find themselves selling their Super Bowl rings, going bankrupt, or putting their mansions on the market.

What is missing? I can’t help but think of Giancarlo Stanton after he wakes up from a night of partying. Did the money really give him the satisfaction he was hoping for when he picked up the pen to sign that monster deal? (Read Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 for the answer to that question)….

For those that didn’t take the time to read Ecclesiastes, I’ll give you the short answer “No!”. Money can’t buy happiness. In fact, even the hip hop community makes the claim “Mo Money, Mo Problems”. But yet people still buy lottery tickets, flood to casinos on pay day, and hope for that next promotion. But what does money promise? Nothing that lasts.

Although in Matthew 7, we learn that few will take the narrow road to eternal happiness. Many will take the broad road filled with shallowness, futility, and corruptible gains. While there was nothing wrong with Stanton’s contract per se, I just wouldn’t waste your time being jealous of it. For those who know Christ, your reward is much greater. If you don’t know Christ, I encourage you to sign your life over to him…it’s a contract with no fine print, but many built-in incentives, it’s not performance based, and it lasts forever.

Matthew 5:12a – Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven

Take a look at James 4:14. What a profound question in the heart of that verse…”What is Your Life?”. James decides to answer the question with a reference to the brevity of life. But the question got me thinking. At the end of my life as my life flashes before my eyes, how will I answer that question? Even in my 30’s, reviewing the slide show of my life in my mind brings numerous emotions to the surface such as joy, excitement, wonder, curiosity, fear, grief, triumph, sadness, bewilderment (junior high days), pride, thankfulness…you get the idea.

But as I keep going back to that daunting question, “What is Your Life?”, it is not easy finding a defining moment or answer for that question. That is, until you take a deeper, more spiritual look at your life. What determines a successful life is not necessarily the moments you had on earth, but what was done for eternity. The little girl I sat with on the steps of a Backyard Bible Club and led to the Savior, the moments of reading God’s Word to my kids, or the acts for others that were purely motivated to simply share the love of Jesus…these are the moments that determine my life.

I encourage you to take a look at this video, and through the tears that will probably form in your eyes, think about your life in rewind. When your eyes close in this life, will they open to an eternity in paradise? The only way to know for sure is to ask God to forgive your sins, and put your eternal destiny in God’s hands, and trust Him with your life. For more information go here, or watch this video, listen to my sermon from yesterday, or comment below.